Six-wheel locomotive truck



Nov. 26, 1940. H. w. sfr. `JOHN ETAL.

SIX-WHEEL LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1 959 4 Smeets-Shree?l l INVENTOR 4 m N5 ww Ib rw 5H WL mm NH EE HG Y IPI...

Y E 4N n yA Nov. 26, 1940. H. w. sT. JOHN ErAL SIX-WHEEL LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed F'eb. 18, 1959 yen:

INVENTOR HENEY W. 5T. JOHN GEANT L.. HuTcHsoN NOV- 26, 1940- H. w. sT. JOHN ETAL 2.223,297

SIX-WHEEL LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HENEY W 51. JOHN GEANT L .HuTcHlsoN K ATTORNEY N0v 26, 1940- H. w. sT. JOHN Erm. 2.2231297 S IX-WHEEL LOCOMOT IVE TRUCK Fild Feb.- 18, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Za 20a m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Q INVENTOR HENEY \X/. 5T. JOHN GEANT l.. Hu'romsoN ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 26, 11940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic SIX-WHEEL LOCOMOTIVE` TRUCK` VApplication February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,212

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to locomotives and more particularly to an improved leading truck especially of the six-wheel type.

The demand for more powerful and faster steam locomotives has necessitated making the same heavier and longer. While ,powerfullocomotives have been built of the articulated type,

yet these are usually vvadapted only for freightv as for tunnels, bridges, etc. and as a result, it is I necessary to make these larger locomotives high- 1y compact in order to avoid a prohibitively long engine, but vat the same time it is necessary to maintain a high degree of strength and flexibility but Without sacrifice of stability in order that the heavier locomotive may travel at high speeds.`

Itis an object of ourinvention to` provide an improved leading engine truck that is particularly adapted for use in a relatively long and high powered locomotive. A further object is to provide an improved leading engine truck whereby a bolster may have considerable lateral movement as well as permit the locomotive to have large diameter engine cylinders without undue restriction by or interference -from the leading truck.

A further object isto provide an improved spring rigging system that is adapted to be compactly arranged .with our improved truck wherebymaximum flexibility may be had together with a high degree of stability. In this respect a further object is to provide an improved crossequalizing system1 preferably at both ends oi the truck, and `to have this, cross-equalizing system suitably Vcoordinated `with longitudinal plate springs so as to insure proper dampening of the spring action. r l

Other objects and advantages will bevmore apparent to those skilled in the art from the iollowing description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional plan view taken on the line I-I `of Fig. 2 but showing the center pin bearing in full rather than in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantiallyl on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 through the spring rigging system butshowing various parts thereof in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 44 is a transverse section taken on the `line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of either end of Figs.' 1 or 2, parts of which are broken away to show details of construction; y

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figs. 'I` and 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken substan-l tially on the line 1 -I of Figs. 6 and 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through` the coil spring and its hanger for the cross-equalizing mechanism;

9 is a horizontal section taken on the line Q S of Fig.,8; and

Fig. l0 is an enlarged end elevation of the` coil spring hanger with the spring and other parts` omitted for the sake of clarity. e

In the particular embodiment of the invention, such as is disclosed herein merely for the purpose of illustrating one specic form among possible others that the invention might take in practice, we have showna six-Wheel truck having essentially front and rear narrow frame sections generallyindicated at I and 2 adapted for inboard bearings for wheeled axles 3 and 4' and an interadapted for voutboard' bearings for av central wheeled axle 5. The front and rear sections are identical and each comprises short longitudinal frames having inner and outer side walls I and I connected by a transverse web 8. The ends of the sections I- and 2 are connected by end sills ID which, in turn are connected to a short outer transverse transom Wall 9 by a suitable longitudinal structure generally indicated at II. The Walls 9 also form a transverse Wall for the inner ends of the end sections I andIZ. l

The intermediate section 4 has a bolster opening formed by transverse Walls I2 and I3 and by end Walls I4 which form part of side Wheel pieces having outer walls I5. The outerwall I5 is continued inwardly as at I6 to merge with the outer Walls 'I. The Walls 9, I2, I4, I5 and I6v are connected to each other by horizontal webs I'I and I8 formed substantially as a continuation of the webs 8. From the foregoing, it is seen that thek Walls 9, I2 and I6 form one transom of the intermediate section andthe walls I3,9 and I6 form the other transom While each pair of Walls I4 and I5 form side wheel pieces. Projecting downwardlyirom and integrally with the frame sections I and 2 are pedestals 20 in which inboard` diate and rear sections I, 4 and 2. Each spring u rigging comprises a pair of plate springs 24 and 25 seated upon the journal boxes 2I`, 2I of axlesV 3 and 4 while an intermediate plate spring 34is f supported on journal box 23. The outer endsgof springs 24 and 25 are connected through spring hangers 21 and 21', Fig. 2, to coil springs 28 and 26 disposed beneath webs 8. The inner endof spring 24 and theadjacent end of spring `34 yare `each provided Ywith Aspring ,hangers 36, Fig. 2,

,which in turn, are connected to a4 diagonal rock--v ing equalizer 3l. This equalizerv is pivotall'y supported on a transverse axis in suitable bosses 32 projecting upwardly from and formed integrally with the horizontal web portion I1. Identical rocking equalizers and spring hangers are located at each of the f ourcorners of the intermediate section 4 and hence need not vbe described; The

`outer walls I5 of the side wheel pieces have corner openings 33 throughwhich the fulcrum pins of the equalizers 3I may be removed kor. inserted while the spaces between walls 6 and 9 provide an opening through which rocking equalizers 3 I vmay be removed. i

The outer ends of springs 24 and 25 are connected through spring hangers 21 and21', Fig.`2,

to coil springs 23 and 29 disposed beneath the frame webs 8. Inasmuch as the arrangementfor the coil `springs`28 and 29 is identical, rit will sufce to describe only one in connection with the cross-equalizationof the.two spring systems which extend along each side of the truck. Coil spring 28 is supported by a Washer 31 on the lowv er end of hanger 21 while the upper end of spring 23 bears against the closed endv 38 of a suitablev This bell crank is, in turn, pivotally supportedy at 43 to suitable bosses 44 projecting downwardly from end sill I6. The other arms of the bell crank 42 arecross-connected by a link 45. The bell cranks and link 45 are, as shown inY Fig.*5, located entirely within the lateral limits of the narrowed frame sections I and 2. l 1

As shown in Figs. 8 to 10 the coil spring hanger 26 is arranged to permit the' spring to have a maximum diameter within a limited space While still allowing kthe hanger to hav-el maximum strength. This is accomplished as shown infFig. 9 byhalving the diagonally located side pieces 26a and 26h connect the upper closed end 38 to. a lower reinforcing web 36a. Thisweb provides a support from which two side members 36a and 39b`project downwardly thereby to support the fulcrum cross member 36. rI'he web 38a has an enlargedppening 36h for receiving a nut'26ar which supports the coil spring through washer 31. Hence the nut and washer may move upwardly into the inverted U-shaped hanger V26 during compression of coil spring 26. As shown in Fig. 9, the diagonally located ver-tical side pieces 26a and 26h permit the coil spring 28 to extend laterally beyond the sides of the hanger 26 so as to come very close'to the reinforcing walls 25a of the outer pedestals. Also, the diagonal arrangement of the side members 26a and 26h allows ample space through which the enlarged coil springs-mayr be removed in a diagonal "direction from the hanger when the latter is removed from the spring rigging system.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, plate springs 24 and 25 are disposed between the walls 6 and 1 of the front and rear narrow sections I and 2 while plate springs'34 are between the walls I4 and I5 of the side wheel pieces of the intermediate section4. YThis enclosed varrangement is accomplished through the interposition of the diagonally yextending rocking equalizers 3i housed and I3 of the interrriediateY section 4. The cen-` tering device, broadly, is of a well-known form and'does notper seconstitute a part of my present invention, except insofar as it Vis peculiarly modified to adapt it to my improved combination.V To this end, it will be noted that two pairs of longitudinally aligned rollers 52, 53 and 54, 55, Fig. 6, are journalled in a suitable frame 56,1Fig.

6. `The ends of this :frame have arms 51 and 58` pivotally connected thereto as at 5SV and 66 while the lower ends of said arms,Figs. 4 and 7, have securedv thereto a pair of pins 6I and 62 projecting inwardly into slots 63 and 64vwhich are suitably formed in lugs on web 48. The upper ends of ysaid arms 51 and 58 have secured thereto 'similarfpins 65 and 66 projecting inwardly into vertical slots 61 and 68 formed in the front and rear sides of bolster 46'. The two pairsof rollers are supported between centering plates 10 and 1I which as is well-known in the art, have inclined surfaces whereby lateral movement of the bolster 46 relativeto the truck frame will causev thev bolster to move upwardly but it will be continually urged back to its center position by said inclined surfaces. During vertical movement of roller frame 56, the arms51 and 58 will cause their lower pinsv 6I and 62 to move upwardly within slots 63 and 64 while the upperpins 65 and` 66 will move downwardly relative to their Lbolster has any lateral movement thereby avoiding excessive wear. Also, the frame vand rollers return to their central position when normal conditions prevail.

A center pin bolt 13 extends through 'a trans-- versely elongated slot 14 in the roller frame 56, Fig. 6, and through a similar vertically aligned transverse slot 15, Fig. 7, in the truck frame. The center pin bolt has a close lit with an opening 'I6 in the swing bolster. Suitable bearing plates and surfaces 'l1 are also formed in the bolster to support and guide a center pin plate.

It will of course be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement of Iparts may be made by those lskilled in the art without departing from the spi-rit of the invention as set forth in the'appended claims.

We claim:

1. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising, in combination, a truck frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings lfor wheeled axles and a wide center section having side wheel pieces provided with outboardbearings forA an intermediate wheeled axle, spaced transoms connecting said side wheel sections, said longitudinal narrow sections terminating at said transoms thereby to provide a clear transverse space between the wheels of said center section, a lateral motion bolster disp-used between said transoms within said clear space and movable for substantially the full width of said narrow sections, a spring rigging system for said wheels including longitudinal plate springs supported on saidknboard and outboard bearings whereby the springs supported on the inboard bearings are oii'setinwardly from the springs supported on the outboard bearings, and rocking equalizers supported by said truck frame and extending from the inwardly offset springs to the springs supported on the outboard bearing.

2. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising, in combination, a truck frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings for wheeled axles and a wide center section having side wheel pieces provided with outboard bearings for an intermediate wheeled axle, spaced transoms connecting said side wheel pieces and said longitudinal narrow sections terminating at said transoms thereby to provide a clear transverse space between the wheels of the center section, a spring rigging system for said wheels including longitudinal plate springs supported on said inboard and outboard bearings and diagonal rocking equalizers supported by said transoms and extending from the springs adjacent the inboard bearings to the spring adjacent the outboard bearings, and a lateral motion bolster disposed between and guided by said transoms and adapted to have lateral movement for a distance substantially equal to the full width of said narrow sections.k

3. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising, in combination, a truck frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings for wheeled axlesI and a wide center section having side wheel pieces provided with outboard bearings for an intermediate wheeled axle, said center section of the truck frame having side wheel pieces and transoms all formed of spaced walls and the narrow sections of the truck frame also having longitudinal frame members formed of spaced walls, longitudinal plate sp-rings disposed between the spaced walls of each section, and rocking equalizers located adjacent said transoms `and extending diagonally to connect the springs which are positioned at the wide and narrow truck sections.

4. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising, in combination, a frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings for wheeled axles and a said transoms having inner and outer longitudinally spaced walls, the outer transom walls forming transverse walls of the narrow frame sections and the inner transom walls` merging with the inner walls of the side wheel pieces whereby a continuous clear space is provided which first extends longitudinally from one end of the truck frame and then turns outwardly adjacent one transom and thence extends along the wheel pieces and turns inwardly adjacent the other transom and thence longitudinally to the other end of the truck, and a spring` rigging system including springs and rocker equalizers disposed Y in said clear spaces.

5. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising', in combination, a truck frame having longitudinally extending` front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings for wheeled axles and a wide center section having side wheel pieces provided with outboard bearings for an inter` mediate wheeled axle, said center section of the truck frame having side wheel pieces each provided with spaced walls and the narrow sections of the truck rframe also having longitudinal frame members each formed of spaced walls, transoms connecting said side wheel pieces and said longitudinal frame members terminating at said transoms thereby providing a. clear transverse space between the wheels of the intermediate section, a lateral motion bolster disposed between and guided by said transoms, longitudinal plate springs supported between the spaced walls of each section, rocking equalizers located adjacent said transoms and extending diagonally to connect the springs which are positioned at the wide and narrow truck sections.

6. A six-wheel locomotive truck comp-rising, in combination, a frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections provided with inboard bearings for wheeled axles, a center frame section having spaced.. transoms and side wheel pieces provided with outboard bearings` for an intermediate Wheeled axle, said narrow frame sections and said side wheel pieces all having inner and outer spaced walls and said transoms having walls merging with the inner walls of the side wheel pieces whereby a continuous clear space is provided which first extends longitudinally from one end of the truck frame and then turns outwardly adjacent one transom and thence extends along the wheel pieces and turns inwardly adjacent the other transom and thence extends longitudinally to the other end of the truck, and a spring rigging system including springs and rocker equalizers disposed in said clear spaces.

7. A six-wheel locomotive truck comprising, in combination, a frame having longitudinally extending front and rear narrow sections, provided center section having spaced transoms and side:

asV

with inboard bearings for wheeled axles, a center ing' withV said other webs and also having longitudinally spaced walls extending transversely be-v tween said side wheel pieces whereby a continuous clear space is provided which first extends longitudinally from one end of the truck frame and then turns outwardly adjacent one transom and thence extends along the wheel pieces and turns inwardly adjacent', the other transom and' thence longitudinally to the other end of thev 

